Republicans, conservatives, and evangelicals in the Midwest are stumbling around in a daze after a historic Ohio anti-abortion vote earlier this week went down in flames.
Politics :
On Tuesday, voters in Ohio rejected a ballot measure that would have made it difficult to maintain a woman’s right to choose. Ohio anti-abortion activists wanted to amend the state constitution to prevent voters from preserving abortion rights through a constitutional amendment in November. However, voters overwhelmingly denied the measure. In the end, they not only protected abortion rights but dealt a huge political blow to the Republican Party.
Republicans got in bed with evangelicals many years ago and not only made abortion a political target but a centerpiece of their GOP agenda.
The plan to end abortion rights within the US was going swimmingly. Donald Trump appointed 3 anti-abortion justices to the US Supreme Court. Then the high court acted on marching orders and overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Apparently, conservatives never knew their anti-abortion stance was deeply unpopular and would one day come back to bite them in the butt. State measures to end abortion rights were swiftly rejected by voters in Kansas and then Wisconsin. Now, the Ohio anti-abortion fight has been defeated — and conservatives are left stunned and wondering why.
Interestingly, conservative podcaster and former Donald Trump flunkie Steve Bannon has come out against the Ohio anti-abortion proposal and the entire movement. He said that after 3 state losses in a row, the issue is not only a losing strategy for Republicans but could become a death knell for the entire party.
“You’ve had 3 in a row where that case hasn’t been made or is not resonant, and these are not close,” Bannon complained to a Catholic priest during his podcast this week. “In modern American politics, these are blowouts!
“I want to rub people’s noses in this. You’ve had 3 shots!” he continued. “These are not left-wing places, Kansas and Ohio, brother, I mean, you’re not going to get more MAGA.
“If it doesn’t get organized, and I mean organized quickly,” he added, “there’s a lot of voices in the donor community and others saying, ‘Hey, you know, what are we doing here? Because these guys are a drag right now when we can’t afford it.'”
Republican strategist Ann Coulter also chimed in.
“Voters haven’t approved abortion restrictions in ANY STATE. They’ve rejected abortion restrictions in Kentucky, Montana, Michigan, Kansas, Vermont, and California … and now, Ohio,” she tweeted. “By the time Republicans notice states keep voting IN FAVOR of abortion, there will be no elected Republicans left!”
By the time Republicans notice states keep voting IN FAVOR of abortion, there will be no elected Republicans left.
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) August 9, 2023
Ohio makes it 7.
[A “no” vote is pro-abortion.] pic.twitter.com/1zsn5Z3a3A
Surprisingly, she is absolutely right.
The Republican Party hitched its wagon to the evangelical specialty issue of abortion opposition. The move may have been effective a decade or so ago, but it is unquestionably unpopular among modern-day voters. In fact, as the Ohio anti-abortion vote proved, the mere mention of the term ‘anti-abortion’ turns out Democratic voters in droves.
It’s strange, but today’s Republican Party doesn’t really stand for anything (other than whatever Donald Trump tells them). A push to turn back the clock on a woman’s right to choose has long been an “etched-in-stone” issue for the GOP. However, only a small faction of the party continues to support the issue. Â
Democrats have never been in favor of the anti-abortion movement and swing voters have increasingly joined Democrats in support of preserving choice.
Or, in other words, if Republicans continue latching on to losing issues (and candidates), Ann Coulter is correct: there won’t be any elected Republicans left.
OK WASSUP! discusses Politics:
Ohio anti-abortion vote loses bigly!
Yes indeed, I waited that evening for the polls to close and the votes to be counted. I knew what the outcome was probably going to be but the Win was so decisive the result was called in literally no time at all! 🙂
Right-wingers of the Supreme, doing the fascist bidding of Talibangelicals AND the Catholic Church’s have Awakened a Sleeping Giant. And THIS issue, in particular, will continue to be a major driving force for High voter turnout all across Our nation.
Which is absolutely bad news for the Republican party!